Factors contributing to inequality and gender-based violence in South Africa: a comprehensive post COVID-19 analysis

The prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa remains a critical challenge that the country is faced with. Recent data highlights that despite interventions, GBV rates continue to rise, par-ticularly in marginalized communities. This mixed model desktop study sought to conduct a post Covid-19 comprehensive analysis to find out the factors contributing to escalation of GBV in South Africa. The findings show the correlation between historical past of South Africa and inequality discrepancies, social-economic challenges that many black people especially black women found themselves, homophobic and hegemonic masculinity tendencies, social normal and women dependence syndrome to be contributing factors to vulnerability of black South Africans. Further, the Covid-19 lockdown and its lockdown exac-erbated the situation due to loss of jobs and collapse of businesses since the majority depend on informal businesses. Statistics reported by SAPS in 2020/2021 validate such an increase. This led to frustrations and too many individuals resorting in relieving their frustrations by indulging in alcohol and drug abuse which in turn triggering incidences of GBV in homestead. Tackling GBV in South Africa therefore re-quires looking beyond the existing human rights articulations but holistic approach while looking at his-torical legacies, state accountability, repurposing its legislation and inclusiveness where all stakeholders and civil society are involved. The paper also challenges academic researchers to adopt Africanized re-search methodologies and designs to address the GBV challenges, as well as policy reforms and commu-nity-based interventions.